Lipsticks

salaam. i recently contacted yourselves regarding a specific lipstick made by L'Oreal cosmetics.It contains carminic acid amongst its ingredients. Is this halal?

Also are L'Oreal products in general halal? i have the following statement sent from L'Oreal in feb 2009:

Thank you for your recent email,

In regards to animal derived ingredients in our products:Some of our products may contain derivatives of sheep's wool (LANOLIN - though no animal is sacrificed to obtain this) and some of our products also contain beeswax, honey or silk amino acids, fish products (collagen and oil) and fowl products (eggs and feather keratin). These can all be identified in the ingredients lists on each product. Some of our lipsticks however may contain carmine, which gives it it's red colour from carminic acid which is derived from insects. L'Oréal actively monitors all issues that could lead to questions concerning the safety of its products and the ingredients used in their manufacture. The ingredients are always strictly selected in observance of the legislations in effect, and are safe for consumers based on the most recent scientific knowledge.

Please do not hesitate to contact us should you require any further advice or assistance concerning our products through one of the channels below.

Kind regards

Answer

Views: 3,358,226

Updated: 2009-04-14

In the Name of Allah, the Inspirer of Truth.Assalamu Alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh

Carmine in lipsticks is not permissible.

The use of carmine in lipsticks, more commonly known as C.I. 75470 in the cosmetic industry is impermissible. This is because there is the risk of licking the lips or somehow swallowing the carmine.

"Carmine (IPA: /ˈkɑːmɪn, ˈkɑrmaɪn, -miːn/), also called Crimson Lake, Cochineal, Natural Red 4, C.I. 75470, or E120, is a pigment of a bright red color obtained from the carminic acid produced by some scale insects, such as the cochineal and the Polish cochineal, and is used as a general term for a particularly deep red color. Carmine is used in the manufacture of artificial flowers, paints, rouge, yogurt, cosmetics, food additives, and crimson ink."